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Polish Sauerkraut Soup – Authentic Kraków Style Recipe

If you’re in Poland, you’ll no doubt find a restaurant that serves Polish sauerkraut soup. (recipe below) It’s one of my personal favorites and is incredibly good for your gut. If sauerkraut isn’t your thing, please ignore this post. It’s not for everyone.

When we were in Kraków, Poland in 2013, Doug wanted to find a concert to listen to. He’s obsessed with organ music, so when I found a free organ concert on the Internet that was taking place that evening at the Kraków Music Academy, we had to go. It was located just outside the old city gates and within walking distance of our hotel.

Students Kraków Music Academy with organ

We arrived too early, so we decided to walk around to find a place to have a drink and a snack. About a block away, we spied a little pub called “The Dog in the Fog.” and walked inside.

(We’re dog fanatics so how could we resist?)

It was a rustic old place that appeared to be popular with the students attending schools nearby. We sat down to have a glass of beer and I ordered their PolishSauerkraut soup. It was a tantalizing concoction of sauerkraut, potatoes, and Polish sausage. I vowed to find a way to replicate it and think I did a pretty good job in the recipe below.

Rebecca in front of Dog in the Fog Pub

After our snack, we went back to the Music Academy and enjoyed an accomplished concert given by its talented students. No one spoke English so we couldn’t understand a word, but that didn’t matter because music is a universal language. The entire evening was thoroughly delightful.

The Square and Church of the Virgin Mary Basilica in the old city of Kraków

Polish sauerkraut soup is good for your gut

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, help your body build immunity and protects you from becoming ill. The fermentation process develops healthy bacteria (probiotics) in your gut that fights against bad bacteria. Eating fermented foods regularly keeps your body balanced and functioning properly. Sauerkraut as well as plain yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh, pickles, and kombucha all help aid digestion. Make sure to add at least a few fermented foods to your diet.

Note: Even though this traditional Polish recipe is made with bits of meat, you can make it vegetarian by substituting olive oil and additional vegetables like celery and carrots instead. Either way, it will be delicious.

2 cups of boiled and sliced potatoes (Since they will simmer in the soup they don't need to be completely done)

6 strips of bacon (optional) or substitute 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil

½ of a 2 foot smoked Kielbasa sausage cubed (optional)

48 oz of canned or boxed broth (I used chicken but you can also use vegetarian - best to use organic and low sodium)

1 Tbsp caraway seeds

Black pepper to taste

1 tsp of ground allspice

Instructions

Fry the bacon strips in a skillet until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon and set them on paper towels. Leave the drippings in the skillet. (If you prefer not to use bacon, simply heat the olive oil in the skillet instead)

When the bacon is cool chop it into bacon bits.

Saute the onions and the mushrooms for about 10 minutes until the onions are translucent.

Add the garlic and saute for about 1 minute

Take the onions, mushrooms, and garlic off the heat and set the mixture aside.

Put the sauerkraut in a heavy soup pot over low heat.

Add the sauteed mushrooms, onions and garlic

Add the broth, caraway, allspice, and pepper

Add the boiled and sliced potatoes

Add the Kielbasa and bacon bits (or leave out if you prefer vegetarian)

Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook on low for about 30 minutes or more.

Notes

I didn't use salt because the sauerkraut is fairly salty. Taste before you salt.

I have been making saurkraut soup my entire adult life it is a Christmas dinner tradition started by my grandmother. My friends say gross and then after trying it is wow this is great.this is very close to my recipe but do yourself a favor and use dried imported wild mushrooms it takes the soup to next level.

Thanks, Scott. What a great suggestion about the mushrooms. I’ll have to try it. I didn’t include it because I didn’t know if people would have access to them, but I would love to try it myself. Thanks so much for the feedback.

How exciting that you were in Poland! isn’t Krakow amazing? Thanks for pointing out that I didn’t mention draining the liquid. I would drain it because otherwise, it may be too salty. I hope you enjoyed your trip. I loved the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany as well.

Thanks very much for the Great information and pictures!!
Love it..shared with my two polish friends and I’m busy this morning making the soup.
Added dried polish mushrooms and cracked all spice…making my own chicken stock ..😍
So Happy that you lived Krakow.
I lived there 2 years before arriving to USA in 76..

My grandparents joseph and Mary Kurzeja were from Krakow, to the best of my knowledge. My Father didn’t like mushrooms so my dear mother, Pennsylvania Deutsch, substituted Lima beans and made it with the pork, leftover from pork and sauerkraut. She added broth which may have been chicken broth. I loved it. My family loves mushrooms..I will try receive.. Thank you.

I’m looking forward to making some sauerkraut soup today with leftovers from our homemade kielbasa. Using the leftover kapusta too. Your recipe sounds so much like what my mom makes except she has no recipe. She just throws it all in the pot. You’ve made my day. I can’t stop smiling 😋.

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